Sound amplifier and clarifier



Oct. 20, 1931 R. RODRIGUEZ 1,827,955

SOUND AMPLIFIER AND CLARIFIER Filed Aprii s, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR TA MON Rook/60. 52

ATTORNEYS Oct. 20, 1931. R. RODRIGUEZ SOUND AMPLIFIER AND CLARIFIER Filed April 3. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iiliilh,

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WI, INVENTOR mum ATTORN E S IIIIIIIIID Patented Oct. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOUND AMPLIFIER AND CLABIFIER Application filed- April 3, 1929. Serial No. 352,144.

'My invention relates to sound amplifiers and clarifiers of the type used in connection with phonographs and radio receiving sets and has for its object to produce a device of 6 the indicated character which is of maximum efliciency and which is particularly adapted as a combined sound conduit for phonographs and loud speakers for radio receiving sets.

The invention contemplates particularly the provision of a sound amplifier and clarifier which will not only amplify the sound waves in an efficient manner, but in addition, will clarify the same so that the amplified reproduction will be free from foreign noises and other objectionable features. Other more specific objects will appear from the description hereinafter, and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an example of the invention without defining its limits, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing the device in the form of a combined phonogra h sound amplifier and radio loud speaker; *ig. 2 is a front elevation partly in section of the de vice; Fig. 3 is a sectional view with the parts in a differentadjustment, and Fig. 4 is a detail section on the line 44 ofFig. 2.

In the illustrated example the sound amplifier and clarifier comprises a receiving chamber 10 of generally spherical form and provided with a plurality of inlets 11 and 12 preferably located so as to be capable, of being brought into communication either with the tone arm of a phonograph, or with the loud speaker unit of a radio receiving set, as will be set forth more fully hereinafter. The receiving chamber 10 is further provided with an exit opening 13, which communicates with a transmitting chamber 14, preferably comprising an integral part of the receivlng chamber 10, for instance, by being cast in one piece therewith. The transmitting chamber 14 diverges from the receiving chamber 10, or, in other words, is of divergent form from the opening 13 to the outlet end of said chamber 14, as shown in Fig. 2.

At its outlet end the transmitting chamber 14 is provided with a plurality of independent outlets through which the sound Waves pass from said chamber 14; in the illutrated example, these outlets are formed in a cover plate 15 which is secured in place at the outlet end of the chamber 14 by being riveted at 16 to a flange 1'7 with which the chamber 14 is provided. The aforesaid plurality of outlets communicate with a plurality of individual tubes 18, preferably of elbow form, which lead from the transmittingchamber 14, and preferably constitute integral parts of the cover plate 15, as shown in Fig. 2. The elbow tubes 18 all communicate with an outlet chamber 19, which diverges from its inlet end towards its outlet end, as shown in Fig. 1.

In the preferred arrangement, the elbow tubes 18 are provided with an integral cover plate 20, which is secured to the inlet end of the outlet chamber 19 which at said inlet end is thus common to all of the elbow tubes 18. The outlet chamber 19 preferably is provided interiorly with a bafile plate 21, which extends inwardly from the outlet end of said chamber 19 and preferably is of less length than the latter so as to terminate at a distance from the exit ends of the tubes 18, so that the outlet chamber 19 is divided in two for a distance inwardly from its outlet end. To increase the effectiveness of the bafile plate 21, it is preferably also inclined upwardly to a slight extent toward the outlet ends of the tubes 18.

In the illustrated example, the sound am plifier and clarifier is embodied in a phonograph which is also provided with means for adapting it for connection with an ex-. ternal radio receiving set, or which has such receiving set incorporated therein as a part of the structure. The sound amplifier and clarifier accordingly is located within the easing of the phonograph and is connected with the top wall 22 thereof, for instance, by means of screws or the like 23, which pass through a flange 24 comprising an integral part of the receiving chamber 10. The exit end of the outlet chamber 19 in turn is secured by means of brackets 25 to the front wall 26 of the phonograph casing in registry with an exit opening 27 formed in such front wall at the proper point. If desired, the exit opening 27 may be provided with a removable/screen 28 known way.

fixed in place in any suitable or convenient manner. lVith this arrangement the sound amplifier and clarifier depends from the wall 22, so that the transmitting chamber diverges from the receiving chamber 10 in a vertical plane, while the outlet chamber 19 extends in a horizontal direction and diverges toward its outlet end in vertical plane transverse to the plane of divergence of the transmitting chamber 11. lVith the construction and arangement under discussion, the inlet opening 11 of the receiving chamber 10 is located in registry and in communication with an opening 29 formed in the top wall 22, which opening 29 in turn communicates with the tone arm 30 of the phonograph which is mounted in the customary manner to swing in a horizontal plane and carries the customary reproducer 31 at its free end and the usual needle 32, which engages the record 33 in the well lhelatter is mounted. on the customary turn table 3 1, which is rotatably operated by means of a motor 35 of any well known type. The inlet 12 of the receiving chamber 10 is located in registry with a tube 36 slidably mounted in a sleeve 37, which communicates with a loud speaker unit 38 of any conventional form or type. The tube 36 is arranged to be shifted into and out of the inlet 12 in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by means of a rack 39, a pinion 410, bevel gearing 11, and an actuating lever 412 mounted on a shaft 13. A slide 1 1 is connected to move with the tube 36 to cover and uncover the opening 11, while a closure 15 is hinged at 46 so as to swing inwardly into the inlet 12, said closure being spring centrolled and arranged to automatically return to its closed position.

lVith the parts in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the slide 4 1 and tube 36 are withdrawn to their inoperative positions, so that the inlet 11 is open and communication accordingly exists between the sound amplifier and clarifier and the tone arm 30. Under such conditions the selection or its equivalent on the record 33 will be reproduced and the sound waves emanating therefrom will be amplified and clarified by the novel device. lVhen it is desired to utilize the amplifier and clarifier as a radio loud speaker, the actuatin lever -12 is operated to adjust the tube 36 and slide 44 to the positions shown in Fig. 3, in which the inlet 11 is closed by the slide 44 and the tube 36 ext-ends into the inlet 12 and establishes communication between the receiving chamber 10 and the loud speaker unit 38. As the parts are adjusted from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3, the tube 36 will engage the closure 45 and swing it inwardly into the inlet 12 to permit said tube 36 to finally assume the position indicated in Fig. 3. As the parts are operated to adjust them from the position shown in Fig. 3, to that of Fig. 2, the closure 45 will automatically be restored to its closing position to shut off the handle 12 as soon as said tube is completely withdrawn from the inlet 12. It will thus be seen that with the arrangement illustrated, the amplifier and clarifier may be thrown into communication at will, either with the tone arm 30, or with the loud speaker unit 38 to thereby act as a phonograph amplifier and clarifier or as a radio loud speaker. In either case, the sound waves will be received in the chamber 10 and passed therefrom without material interference, because of its approximately cylindrical shape, to the transmitting chamber 1 1. In the latter, because of the divergent form of said chamber 14, the sound waves will spread out and will pass therefrom through the individual elbow tubes 18 by which the sound waves are separated into a plurality of independent streams, which final-ly enter the outlet chamber at the reduced end thereof. In this outlet chamber 19, the independent streams of sound waves are reassembled into a whole and are amplified by said chamber 19 because of its diverging form; at the same time the reassembled sound waves are split horizontally in two by the bafile plate 21 before they pass through the exit opening 27 and to the exterior of the instrument. In the passage through the amplifier and claritier, the sound waves which are first gathered in the receiving chamber 10 and then spread apart in the transmitting chamber 14 and then separated into independent streams by the tubes 18, are clarified so that by the time they reach the outlet chamber 19 in which they are amplified, all foreign noises or other objectionable features have been completely. removed therefrom. The theory underlying this procedure is not definitely known to me, but actual demonst 'ation has disclosed the fact that the result is a decided and definite improvement over existing structures and that the amplified sound emanating from the outlet chamber 19 is an improved reproduction of the sounds which constitute the originals of the record 33 or which emanate from the broadcasting station which is being received and reproduced by the radio set with which the device is combined.

lVhile the illustrated arrangement has been found most satisfactory, it may, in some instances, be found desirable to alter the form of the elbow tubes 18 so that the relation of the outlet chamber 19 to the transmitting chamber 141 may be other than that illustrated in the drawings, without in any way interfering with the effectiveness of the sound amplifier and clarifier.

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim 1. A sound amplifier and clarifier com- ;niising a receiving chamber of generally spherical form, a transmitting chamber communicating with said receiving chamber and diverging therefrom in a vertical plane, a plurality of individual elbow tubes leading from said transmitting chamber, an outlet chamber communicating with all of said tubes and diverging therefrom in a vertical plane, transverse to the plane of the transmitting chamber, and a horizontal baflle plate of less length than and located within said outlet chamber dividing it in two for a distance inwardly from the outlet end of said outlet chamber.

2. A sound amplifier and clarifier comprising a transmitting chamber diverging from its inlet end toward its outlet end, sound conducting means connected with the inlet the inlet end of said outlet chamber.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

RAMON RODRIGUEZ.

end of said transmitting chamber, a plurality of individual tubes leading from the outlet end of said transmitting chamber, an outlet chamber communicating with all of said tubes and diverging therefrom, and a baflie plate of less length than and dividing said outlet chamber in two for a distance inwardly from its exit end.

3. A sound amplifier and clarifier comprising sound conducting means, an independent outlet chamber, and a plurality of individual tubes extending between said sound conducting means and outlet chamber in exterior relation thereto and having their opposite ends connected respectively with said sound conducting means and outlet chamber, the latter diverging from the ends of said tubes connected therewith.

t. A sound amplifier and clarifier comprising a receiving chamber of generally spherical form, an outlet chamber diverging from its inlet toward its outlet end, and sound conducting means located exteriorly between and connecting said receiving and outlet chambers and including a plurality of individual tubes.

5. A sound amplifier and clarifier comprisin a receiving chamber of generally spherical form having a plurality of independent inlets, a transmitting chamber leading from said receiving chamber and having a plurality of independent outlets, a plurality of individual tubes leading from the outlets of said transmitting chamber, and an outlet chamber common to all of said tubes.

6. In a combined phonograph and radio receiver, the combination of a sound receiving chamber of generally spherical form having two inlets adapted for connection respectively with the tone arm of the phonograph and the loud speaker unit of the radio receiver, a transmitting chamber communicating with said receiving chamber and diverging downwardly therefrom, a plurality of individual tubes communicating independently with said transmitting chamber and 

